1
as in magic
the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment
the illusionist's show is an entertaining blend of legerdemain and over-the-top showmanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
the reduction of the deficit is due in part to financial legerdemain that masks the true costs of running the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legerdemain
There is something more profound going on than constitutional legerdemain.
—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Conservatives been rightly preoccupied with the Left’s legerdemain and subversion, but have been far too slow to confront an equally grave external danger: the accelerating penetration of foreign influence operations into our own right-of-center political ecosystem.
—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Between April 1 and 7, the fair gathered 60 brands at the Palexpo exhibition center that broke new records, showcased world premieres and offered an ever-growing array of technical and artistic legerdemain in their latest high-end timepieces.
—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2025
No matter how Congress formally scores the price of extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as other Trump initiatives, accounting legerdemain can’t make fiscal reality disappear.
—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legerdemain
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Conservatives been rightly preoccupied with the Left’s legerdemain and subversion, but have been far too slow to confront an equally grave external danger: the accelerating penetration of foreign influence operations into our own right-of-center political ecosystem.
—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Between April 1 and 7, the fair gathered 60 brands at the Palexpo exhibition center that broke new records, showcased world premieres and offered an ever-growing array of technical and artistic legerdemain in their latest high-end timepieces.
—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2025
No matter how Congress formally scores the price of extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as other Trump initiatives, accounting legerdemain can’t make fiscal reality disappear.
—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legerdemain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legerdemain
Noun
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Signaling what will be a frenetic week, Draymond Green opted out of his contract, ESPN reported Monday morning, sending alarm bells across the league that the Warriors could be cooking up cap magic to potentially lure James to the Bay Area.
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Not only is the city booming with routine plans for the 4th, but there's a special sort of magic in the air as this year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed right here in Philadelphia.
Noun
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Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
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By the time the deception was uncovered, the employee had authorized $25 million in transfers.
Noun
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Now, though, summer in the south is so brutal that centuries of architectural trickery is being outmatched, and in the north, houses designed to retain heat during the winter have become furnaces in sweltering summers.
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There's no shame, no trickery—just relief and a chance to rebuild your financial stability.
Noun
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The Blacks’ defeat would be certain if not for dragons and subterfuge.
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There is a long history of subterfuge at World Cups — a long history of sharing injury information that isn’t exactly transparent or even accurate.
Noun
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There’s a tremendous amount of financial chicanery that goes on in 2026.
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Not many people, however, concluded that financial chicanery at executive level should be used as a stick with which to beat the players and coaches who had won those trophies over the years in question.
Noun
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This is not treachery but the truest and noblest affection.
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Peacock’s adventures in treachery The Traitors was the top dog, scoring five prizes including Best Competition Series and Best Host for Alan Cumming.
Noun
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Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.
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Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.
Noun
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Once there, a combination of Messi’s genius, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s larger-than-life performances, a well-balanced team, and — it must be said — some unsavoury moments of skullduggery by several players, helped Argentina battle their way to the final against defending champions France.
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For this skullduggery-stopping potential, the city paid $67,548, which is in the rough ballpark as what your average cop probably makes annually.
Cite this Entry
“Legerdemain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legerdemain. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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